Nuance Dictionary / Love & Affection
정들다 jeong-deul-da
To grow attached to someone or something over time
What does 정들다 mean?
정들다 (jeong-deul-da) means: To grow attached to someone or something over time.
Connected to the famous concept of '정' — this is the verb for that attachment actually forming. You don't fall for a stray cat you feed once; you '정들다' with it slowly, over weeks of it showing up at your door.
How it's actually used
- 여기서 일한 지 3년째라 회사 사람들이랑 너무 정들었어요.
yeogiseo ilhan ji samnyeonjaera hoesa saramdeurirang neomu jeongdeureosseoyo.
I've been working here for three years now, and I've grown so attached to my coworkers.
💡 Used when developing deep bonds through shared time. - 이 낡은 차랑도 정들어서 차마 못 바꾸겠어요.
i nalgeun charangdo jeongdeureoseo chama mot bakkugesseoyo.
I've grown so attached to this old car that I just can't bring myself to replace it.
💡 Can be used for objects, not just people. - 낡은 자동차지만 5년 동안 같이 타다 보니 참 정들었다.
nalgeun jadongchajiman o-nyeon dongan gati tada boni cham jeongdeureotda.
It's an old car, but after driving it together for five years, I've really grown attached to it.
💡 Can apply to inanimate objects you've used for a long time.
Related words in Love & Affection
살갑다 sal-gap-da다정하다 da-jeong-ha-da콩깍지가 씌다 kong-kkak-ji-ga ssui-da짝사랑 jjak-sa-rang애지중지하다 ae-ji-jung-ji-ha-da